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Nerdarchy > Dungeons & Dragons  > Dungeons & Dragons Monsters — Chokers! Making Adventurers Breathless
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Dungeons & Dragons Monsters — Chokers! Making Adventurers Breathless

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Dungeons and Dragons Monsters- Here comes the choker-

I did an article a while back called “Holy Crap! Nerdarchy’s Top 10 Scariest Dungeons and Dragons Monsters” where I talk about chokers and why I like them so much.

Excerpt From Holy Crap! Nerdarchy’s Top 10 Scariest Dungeons and Dragons Monsters-

“These guys were introduced in Dungeons and Dragons 3.0 edition. I instantly fell in love with these little creepers.

role-playing“They  hide and lurk in the shadowy recesses of the dungeon just waiting for that last adventurer in the party to go by or the straggler that wanders off without the rest of the group.”

Another ambush artist like the kobold, but they hunt in small packs or solo. They easily blend into dark places and have long icky tentacle-like arms that they expertly use to strangle their victims.”

Chokers aren’t very intelligent creatures, but they are smart enough that they can be bribed opening some possibilities for role-playing with these beasties. The trick is knowing they are there before it’s to late, in order to even interact with them.

When it comes to my Dungeons and Dragons Monsters I love Cthulhu-like weird stuff and the ambushers. Which of course makes the choker a double win for me. Just imagine your players getting into role-playing situation with these little freaks.

A couple things to note int-4, but again in the choker’s description they are bribable and they are willing to work with other monsters. These two things are important when it comes to keeping our choker encounters interesting from both combat and role-playing perspective.

Now let’s make these Dungeons and Dragons Monsters interesting.

The typical choker maybe stupid, but they don’t all have to be. Our little critters can fill more interesting roles than just bushwhackers such as- muscle for a goblin tribe, an assassin working for the highest bidder, or maybe a second story man. Perhaps a super smart choker is running one of the local gangs in a city and no one has actually seen its face or knows it’s true identity.

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Again with a little creativity we can make these monster manual entry’s into more than just things to kill and take there stuff. You can make them memorable.

Not only that the choker is the kind of monster that can challenge your players through out the levels.

Using the Choker-

Levels 1-3 As is straight out of the book. I’d just change the tactics according to the parties level. Obviously a single monster in this case could devastate a 1st level party, so some care will be needed.

Alternatively one of these nasty little beasts could be introduced into a  role-playing scenario. Maybe acting as muscle for some other potential adversary. This little freak could be very intimidating as it shows off it’s superior reach and mobility or an out right display of it’s murderous capabilities.

Levels 4+: There are two different ways to go. First just numbers a pack of chokers ambushing your party will really screw up their day. It’s easy for them to gain surprise and they have a chance of winning initiative. There strangle ability allows them to shut down spell casters if they successfully grapple them.

The other way is a single choker or smaller group that have been advanced or have class levels. A choker with fighter or rogue levels will make for a vicious opponent.

For even higher levels just combine the two methods above or see below for a couple more ideas.

Side Note Mixing it up:

Have players that have memorized the MM? Throw them a curve ball. Use a pack of chokers that have a hive mind and greater than normal intelligence. Let the pack harass your players with hit and run tactics. Chokers are fast, have reach, and can climb with ease. Or maybe they have one of the many templates on them. There is a lot of ways to spice up any monster.

This one in particular is just fun in my opinion. What if this group isn’t stupid and has formed a ninja clan. Wouldn’t that surprise your players.

Have Dungeons and Dragons Monsters you’d like us to go over? Agree or disagree let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

 

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david friant

My name is Dave Friant I've been gaming off and on for over 27 years. But here is the thing it's always been a part of my life I've kept secret and hidden away. I've always been ashamed of the stigma that gaming and my other nerdy and geeky pursuits summon forth. Recently I decided screw it! This is who I am the world be damned. From now on I'm gonna be a geek, nerd, or however folks want to judge me and just enjoy life. Currently one of my greatest joys is introducing my 13 yr old son to table top RPG's.

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